OBITUARY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15156, 21 December 1914, Page 10

OBITUARY.

CAPTAIN MEIKLEHAM

\ Captain Meikleham, .a well-known figure in Cliristchurch. for many years past, died at his residence, at Sydenham, last night. ,The ; late Captain Meikloham. was born in Paisley, Scotland, in 1838. At the age of 15 years ho .wont to sea, and served h)e apprenticeship in chips trading on the coast of Britain and- to China. In 1858 ho came to New Zealand, and was' on T gaged in tho mercantile marine, upon the coast and between New. "Zealand and Australia and. tho Chatham • Islands. Ho was chief officer of the Airedale for ecnn'o' yonrs, and later commanded the Omaha, running between New .Zealand and tho '"■ Chatham Islands. The Omaha was hie last ship, and ho left that vessel {o«join tho commercial staff of the Christclnirch Press Company. Ho- served for twenty . years with the company -as , canvasser, and wag extraordinarily- successful in that capacity. He "retired in March of this year, but before he left' h© was welled by a largo gathering of "Frees ' omployees. and was presented with a token of their cfeteem. 'Since, then Captain Meiklehani lived quietly, but still kept in touch with many of his.old friends. Captain Meiklebam was married in 18&4 to a daughter of Mr James Johnetone, builder. - Hβ is Survived by a widow, ono son, and 6ix daughters. 'The.late Captain Meikleham took a keen interest in football, and was president of tho Sydenham Football Club for many years. ■ ■ • ■ MR A. McMASTER. Cable advice was received in Oamaru •on, Friday of tho death in London, on Wednesday,-of ..Mr Alexander A. McMaster, of Tokarahi. Mr McMaster left on a trip, to England last July for modical treatment, but it was understood that he was progressing fay. ourably, and tho news of his death, at tho early age. of 51 years, will come ac a shock to his legion of friends. Tho lato Mr Alexander McMaster was born at Waiakura, Oamaru, in 1863, and was educated at tho famous Kugby school and also on tho Continent. After a few years of travelling and training in commercial pursuits, ho returned to Oamaru to assist his father in tho j management of Tokarahi. With tho Tokarahi settlement tho namo of MoMaster will bo indelibly identified (says tho ''North Otago Times"). Tho property wae taken up, along with others, by Messrs Borton and McMaster. sen., in 1861, and on tho dissolution of tho partnership botwoen thoso gentlemen, in 1878, Tokarahi, consisting of 13,000 acres of freehold and 70,000 acres of leasehold, was taken over by Mr McMaster. Tho Crown leases expired in 1891, and subsequently tho major portion of tho freehold was sold to the ; Government for settlement purposes. Mr McMastor, sen., retained tho homestead block of 1500 acres, which, on his death, paesed to his eon, just deceased. The high-class raorinoetud at Tokarahi, established by his father, was persisted in by tho lato Mr McMaster, who also went in largely for pure-bred Alderney, Jeraev. and Guernsey , cattle, raised from imported stock. Mr McMaster was a- keen racing enthusiast, and at one time kept a small stable of thoroQKhbrcds. whicH included some very fair performers. Hβ was the first Drosidont of the North Otago Jockey Club, and for many years was an active member of ite committee. He married, in 18S9, a daughter of tho late Mr John Reid, of Elderslie, and his widow, two sons, and one daughter eurvive him.

fThe late Mr McMaster was a member of the Canterbury Chib, and the flag at the club was flying half-mast on Saturday and yesterday as a mark of respect to his memory.] -

Mr F. W. A. FranctE, a verjr old resident of Leithfield, was found dead in bed yesterday morning. He had been attended by a doctor, and a certificate of death was-givon. Hβ had resided for forty years the district, and was the proprietor of. a bakery establishment, and only '.retired from active business a little timo ajjo. - -"